The concept of "beginnings" holds a foundational place in the biblical narrative, symbolizing both the literal and theological inception of creation, humanity, and God's covenantal relationship with His people. The Bible opens with the book of Genesis, whose very name means "origin" or "beginning," setting the stage for the unfolding account of God's interaction with the world.

Creation

The Bible begins with the account of creation in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse establishes God as the sovereign Creator, who brings order out of chaos and light out of darkness. The six days of creation detail the formation of the universe, culminating in the creation of humanity, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This act of creation is not only a historical event but also a theological statement about God's power, wisdom, and intentionality.

Humanity and the Fall

The beginning of humanity is marked by the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, placed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:7, 2:22). This idyllic setting represents the original state of harmony between God, humanity, and creation. However, the narrative quickly shifts to the beginning of sin with the Fall in Genesis 3. The disobedience of Adam and Eve introduces sin and death into the world, altering the course of human history and necessitating God's redemptive plan.

Covenant Beginnings

Throughout the Bible, God initiates covenants as new beginnings in His relationship with humanity. The covenant with Noah after the flood (Genesis 9:8-17) signifies a fresh start for creation, marked by the promise that God will never again destroy the earth with a flood. The call of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 marks the beginning of God's chosen people, Israel, through whom all nations would be blessed. This Abrahamic covenant is foundational for understanding God's unfolding plan of salvation.

The Nation of Israel

The Exodus marks the beginning of Israel as a nation, liberated from Egyptian bondage. The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20) establishes Israel's identity as God's covenant people, setting them apart to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The entry into the Promised Land under Joshua represents the fulfillment of God's promises and a new beginning for the Israelites.

The New Covenant

The prophetic literature anticipates a new beginning through the coming of the Messiah. Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaks of a new covenant, written on the hearts of God's people, which finds fulfillment in the New Testament. The birth of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of this new covenant, offering salvation to all who believe. The Gospel of John echoes the creation narrative with its opening words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1), identifying Jesus as the divine Logos and agent of creation.

The Church

The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 signifies the beginning of the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This new community of believers, both Jew and Gentile, represents the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring.

Eschatological Beginnings

The Bible concludes with the promise of a new beginning in the book of Revelation. The vision of a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1) points to the ultimate restoration of creation and the consummation of God's redemptive plan. This eschatological hope assures believers of a future where God will dwell with His people, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).

In summary, the theme of beginnings in the Bible underscores God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and redemptive purpose throughout history, from creation to the new creation.6932. Qedemoth -- a city in Reuben
... Kedemoth. From qadam; beginnings; Kedemoth, a place in eastern Palestine -- Kedemoth.
see HEBREW qadam. 6931, 6932. Qedemoth or Qedemoth. 6933 . ...
/hebrew/6932.htm - 6k

The Beginnings of Church Reform
... The Church and the Empire CHAPTER I THE BEGINNINGS OF CHURCH REFORM. Previous to
the eleventh century there had been quarrels between Emperor and Pope. ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter i the beginnings of.htm

The Beginnings of Christianity a Series of Works by Various ...
... THE BEGINNINGS OF CHRISTIANITY A Series of Works by Various Authors. EDITED BY FJ
FOAKES JACKSON, DD. AND. KIRSOPP LAKE, DD. 8vo. Part I. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ...
/.../the beginnings of christianity a.htm

The Puritan Beginnings of the Church in virginia ---Its Decline ...
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER V. THE PURITAN BEGINNINGS OF
THE CHURCH IN VIRGINIA"-ITS DECLINE ALMOST TO EXTINCTION. ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter v the puritan beginnings.htm

Close of the Colonial Era --The German Churches --The Beginnings ...
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER XII. CLOSE OF THE COLONIAL
ERA"THE GERMAN CHURCHES"THE BEGINNINGS OF THE METHODIST CHURCH. ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xii close of the.htm

Whether it is Reasonable to Separate Janus and Terminus as Two ...
... Why, then, do they say that the beginnings of things pertain to him, but
the ends to another whom they call Terminus? For they say ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 7 whether it is reasonable.htm

Of the Union of Our Will with God's in the Inspirations which are ...
... in order to turn us from prosecuting a work less excellent which we should have
performed; for he cares not how many purposes, plans and beginnings be made, so ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi of the union 2.htm

But He Imbues their Minds, Above All, with Ethical Science; and He ...
... So that, beholding itself as in a mirror (and I may say specifically, viewing, on
the one hand, the very beginnings and roots of evil in it, and all that is ...
/.../argument ix but he imbues their.htm

Discourse IV.
... inseparable. And thus too we preserve One Beginning of Godhead and not
two Beginnings, whence there is strictly a Monarchy. And ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/discourse iv.htm

His Life
... THE EIGHTEEN SILENT YEARS. THE BEGINNINGS OF HIS MINISTRY. JESUS AND JOHN THE
BAPTIST. ... JOHN'S TESTIMONY TO JESUS. THE BEGINNINGS OF FAITH. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/

The Desolations of the Lord, the Consolation of his Saints
... IT SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING Christlike must have a history like that of Christ.
His beginnings were small"the manger and the stable. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the desolations of the lord.htm

Beginnings (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Beginnings (4 Occurrences). Mark 13:8 For nation
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom ...
/b/beginnings.htm - 7k

Images (158 Occurrences)
... IMAGES. im'-aj-iz (tselem; eikon): 1. Definition 2. Origin 3. Historical Beginnings
and Early Developments 4. Bible References and Palestinian Customs 5. Most ...
/i/images.htm - 70k

Moons (17 Occurrences)
... Numbers 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the
beginnings of your months, ye shall blow the trumpets over your burnt ...
/m/moons.htm - 12k

Months (65 Occurrences)
... Numbers 10:10 "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in
the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt ...
/m/months.htm - 28k

Preaching (116 Occurrences)
... The older books in the Canon have in them the beginnings and some of the features
of the preacher's office and of the high function of preaching. ...
/p/preaching.htm - 50k

Nineveh (23 Occurrences)
... NINEVEH. nin'-e-ve (nineweh; Nineue, Nineui; Greek and Roman writers, Ninos): I.
BEGINNINGS, NAME, POSITION 1. First Biblical Mention 2. Etymology of the Name 3 ...
/n/nineveh.htm - 52k

Begins (12 Occurrences)

/b/begins.htm - 9k

Genesis
... Bresith of Origen). In the Septuagint it is called Genesis, because it recounts
the beginnings of the world and of mankind. This name ...
/g/genesis.htm - 40k

Accommodation (1 Occurrence)
... plastic mind of man. 2. Accommodation a Feature of Progressive Revelation:
(1) The beginnings of revelation. Since man's experience is ...
/a/accommodation.htm - 39k

Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... The Feast of Tabernacles is at once the general harvest festival, chagh he-'aciph,
and the anniversary of the beginnings of the wanderings in the wilderness ...
/f/feasts.htm - 36k

What is the meaning of Easter? What does Easter mean? | GotQuestions.org

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Beginnings: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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